Nepal does not feature often in Theravada circles. But it is probably the greatest success story in recent times. Introduced only about 80 years ago, the country now has a 400 monks and samaneras, similar number of nuns and also about 100 viharas .

It has been the subject of many studies and books and the story of its advent is dramatic, involving the imprisonment and exile of monks, and the intervention of the king and government ministers. Not only has Theravada been successful in establishing itself in Nepal, it has given fresh impetus to the older Vajrayana and local strain of Newari Buddhism in the country. Furthermore, all the schools of Buddhism co-exist and cooperate amicably. Consequently those who declared themselves as Buddhist have increased from 5% in 1981 to 11% in 2001, the date of the last census. http://www.scribd.com/doc/36717573/Ther ... dern-Nepal

I've driven up a few times over the years to go to Lumbini. Always felt (apart from getting through the border crossing with India ) that it was a well-run country. Even has some elected Maoist members of parliament, working alongside other parties.NepalNews.comhttp://www.nepalnews.com/archive/nepalnewsmain.php

with mettaChris

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